convert – All about car

The electrification of the automobile seems, to many, to be simply unstoppable, but as battery technology advances, styling looks like its going in reverse.We struggle to think of modern vehicles in general wed call pretty, but todays electric vehicle (EVs) are arguably the most homely of the bunch.Theres also something very sterile about new cars they dont have a character or a tactile feel to them. For the most part, theyre recyclable appliances, discarded after theyve outlived their use.Luckily, theres a new solution to these issues: classic car EV conversions. A classic car has a character and a feel when you sit behind the steering wheel whether its a fully restored stunner or a clapped-out heap, it has a story to tell. When converted to electric power, it brings all the benefits of looking and feeling good to a world where you no longer need to burn fuel. But just because youve converted your classic to be more environmentally friendly doesnt mean everybody is going to think youre a hero.In fact, the Federation Internationale des Vehicules Anciens (FIVA), a group dedicated to the preservation and protection of vintage vehicles, recently declared once your vehicle has been converted to electric, it doesnt comply with the FIVA definition of a historic vehicle, nor does it support the goal of preserving historic vehicles and their related culture. So, take that into account before shopping for electric powertrains.If you dont care about FIVA, though, here are ten companies that will convert your classic car into an EV.Electra Meccanica’s 356 eRoadsterRange: 250 kilometresPeak torque: 644 lb.-ft.Price: $124,900Based in Vancouver, B.C., Electra Meccanica is an electric offshoot of parent company Intermeccanica, which has been making Porsche replicas since the 70s. In the last few years, its turned to electrifying its replicas to make them into stylish West Coast cruisers even more hippie than their predecessors.Voitures Extravert’s Porsche 911Range: 321 kilometresPeak torque: 672 lb.-ft.Price: $450,000Not only will these guys convert your Porsche 911 to electric, but theyll restore it for you too. Voitures Extravert has said it won’t touch 1960s Porsches. However, it will backdate your 70s or 80s Porsche to look like its from the 60s, with a few added modern conveniences to boot and in the boot.Lunaz’s Jaguar XK120Range: N/APeak torque: 516 lb.-ft.Price: $594,790Named after the daughter of the companys founder, upstart Lunaz converts vintage British luxury vehicles into electrically-powered beasts. Its first project was a 1953 Jaguar XK120 that was meticulously disassembled and 3D-scanned in order to properly fit the companys bespoke drivetrain.That drivetrain, by the way, makes 516 lb.-ft. of torque. Next up is a 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, but for now, interested customers will have to settle for the 350,000 ($594,790) Jag.Jaguar’s 2020 E-Type Zero EVRange: 275 kilometresPeak output: 295 hpPrice: N/AJaguar itself will build you an electric version of its classic E-Type, dubbed the E-Type Zero. Famously driven by Prince Harry at his wedding, the classic conversion mixes great looks with perfect reliability (yes, despite the brands reputation).This is one of the best EV conversions available as its completely reversible. Plus the electric drivetrain weighs the same as the original, so it retains the same weight distribution.Zero Labs’ Ford BroncoRange: 305 kilometresPeak torque: 277 lb.-ft.Price: $265,000If sports cars arent really your thing, perhaps a classic truck is more to your liking. The Bronco is a bona fide classic, but it was never really known for its powerful drivetrain. That can change thanks to Zero Labs, which will install an electric motor good for 440 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque in the 44, a 500-per-cent improvement! Add a 305-kilometre range and youre good for a few hours of off-road fun.Charge’s Ford MustangRange: 200 kilometresPeak torque: 885 lb.-ft.Price: $509,820Sporting Eleanor body kits, the Mustangs turned out by this British firm take muscle in a different direction. Underneath the reproduction 1967 Stang body sits dual electric motors, capable of providing 402 horsepower and 885 lb.-ft. of torque to all four wheels.While it looks vintage, theres really nothing vintage about it, especially in terms of performance. Zero-to-100-km/h happens in just 3.1 seconds, and youll get 200 km out of a full charge all for 300,000 (CAD$509,820).Garage Italia’s Icon-E Fiat 500Range: N/APeak torque: N/APrice: N/AIf being environmentally friendly is all about reducing your footprint, there isnt a much smaller shoe than the Fiat 500. Garage Italia is a firm based in Italy dedicated to the preservation of the style and history of motor vehicles, so it only seems fitting it would build a future-proof EV Fiat 500 Jolly.Details such as battery size, range, or price are not available, but it doesnt really matter in a piece of history like this. The only indication re:
Origin: These companies will convert your classic into an EV

GM Oshawa Assembly signHandout / GM Canada General Motors will invest $170 million converting the Oshawa, Ontario assembly plant it’d intended to close into a parts production facility and autonomous vehicle test track. GM and labour union Unifor announced May 8 their new agreed-upon plans for the plant. The 60-plus-year-old facility will be transitioned into an parts producer for GM and other auto industry clients; the vehicle assembly stations will go away, and be replaced by machines for stamping aftermarket parts. The facility will also act as hub for autonomous vehicle (AV) testing, and its redevelopment will see the construction of an AV test track. GM says 300 jobs will be retained with the potential to grow and generate significant additional jobs in the coming years. Unfortunately most of the roughly 2,600 hourly workers currently employed in Oshawa assembly will still lose their jobs, though there will be opportunities to move to other GM plants in Ontario. Packages will also be offered to employees who are close to retirement. A Job Action Centre will be established in June to help people find jobs outside of GM once the plant closes in December 2019; the centre is jointly supported by GM, Unifor and the Ontario government. GM is also offering financial support for employees looking to retrain for new jobs. “This transformation plan is very significant as it positions Oshawa for a sustainable future, GM Canada president and managing director Travis Hester said. This agreement maximizes the support for our people and their families, and further secures Oshawa as a key in developing vehicles of the future at our new test track.” That new test track will be used specifically to test autonomous vehicle technology, as well as to expand GM’s technical centre capabilities in Ontario. After ongoing protests and even Super Bowl ads fighting the plant’s closure, it seems like Jerry Dias, Unifor National President, is satisfied with this new resolution. “By maintaining a footprint in Oshawa, and keeping the plant intact, we save hundreds of jobs and this gives us the ability to build and create new jobs in the future, Dias said. We are in a much better position than we were five months ago when the plant was
Origin: GM will convert Oshawa plant into autonomous vehicle test track